Kings and Prophets · Lesson 8
David and Jonathan
1 Samuel 18:1-4; 1 Samuel 19:1-7; 1 Samuel 20:1-42 Old Testament PrincipleFriendship
Jonathan, the king's son, became David's loyal friend, gave up his own claim to the throne, and protected David from King Saul, pointing to Jesus, the Friend who laid down His life for us.
God made us for friendship with Him and with each other, and Jesus' love makes us loyal friends.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s love
Jonathan gave up his robe, his weapons and his right to be king because he loved David and trusted God's plan. Jesus did even more. He laid down His life for us while we were still sinners, and He calls us His friends. He will never leave us.
John 15:13-15; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 13:5
The Big Story · Redemption
While God was preparing David to be king, He gave him a loyal friend in Jonathan. Their covenant friendship points to Jesus, the King who calls us friends and laid down His life for us.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Give it away
- Ellie’s Lab (science experiment): A cord of three strands
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Beyond you!
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus is my best friend.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Friend hugs, Color the friends
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at church, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Jonathan was a loyal friend to David, and Jesus is the best Friend of all, who helps me be a good friend too.
Start here
Ask, "What makes someone a good friend?" Let kids answer. Say, "Today we'll meet a friend who gave up something huge for his friend."
Bible story 6 min
After David beat Goliath, he met Prince Jonathan. Jonathan's dad was King Saul. Jonathan and David became best friends. They made a promise to always be friends.
Jonathan gave David his royal robe, his sword, his bow and his belt. Those were a prince's things!
But King Saul got jealous. People liked David a lot. Saul was mad. He wanted to hurt David. So David asked Jonathan for help.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Arrow signal 8 min
You’ll need: Three paper arrows
- Kids take turns being Jonathan. "Jonathan" tosses a paper arrow and calls "Short!" or "Past you!"
- If he calls "Past you!", "David" runs to a safe spot. If "Short!", David stays.
- Talk about how Jonathan kept his friend safe.
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3rd – 4th grade
Jonathan stayed loyal to David even when it cost him, and Jesus is the Friend who laid down His life for us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: What friendship cost, Friendship bookmark
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Jonathan laid aside his robe and his claim to the throne out of covenant love for David, a picture of Jesus, who laid down His glory and His life for His friends.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Covenant friendship, Friend or rival?
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, online and on screens, in sports and games
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Friendship
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Big Feelings: Taking Them to GodBig Feelings: Loneliness2 Timothy 4:9-22; Acts 15:36-40; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Hebrews 13:5Near the end of his life, Paul was in a cold prison in Rome. Many friends had gone away. He wrote to Timothy, "Come quickly! Only Luke is with me. Bring my cloak. And bring Mark." Long before, Paul and Mark had split up. Now Paul wanted him back. Paul wrote, "Everyone deserted me. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me." Loneliness is a big feeling we can take to God. He is always with us, and He made us for friendship, so we reach out to others too.New TestamentFriendship
With Building BricksThe Friends Who Opened the RoofMark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26; Galatians 6:2Four friends couldn't get their paralyzed friend to Jesus, so they opened the roof and lowered him down. Jesus forgave his sins and then healed him. Real friends carry each other to Jesus, because Jesus carries our biggest burden.New TestamentFriendship
Priscilla and Aquila: Friends Who HelpedActs 18:1-4, 18-28; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; John 15:13-15When Paul came to Corinth, he met Priscilla and Aquila, a husband and wife who had been forced to leave Rome. They were tentmakers, just like Paul, so he stayed and worked with them, and they became close friends. Later they sailed with Paul to Ephesus. There they heard a gifted teacher named Apollos, who didn't yet know the whole story about Jesus. They took him aside and kindly explained the way of God more accurately, and Apollos became a great help to the believers. Friendship means loving others at all times and helping them grow, because Jesus calls us His friends.New TestamentFriendship
Seeing God's WorldReal Friends in a Screen WorldDaniel 3:1-30; Daniel 2:17-18; Hebrews 10:24-25When King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to bow to a giant gold statue, three friends stood together and trusted God. God was with them in the fiery furnace and brought them out without even the smell of smoke. Real friends help each other stand for God, and screens can't replace them.Old TestamentFriendship